Box Score

The LMU baseball team (15-12, 5-3 WCC) trailed 7-0 to Gonzaga (12-14, 3-5 WCC) headed into the bottom of the fifth before eventually falling by a count of 8-2 on Saturday from Page Stadium. With the victory, Gonzaga evened the series at one game apiece.

The Bulldogs came out strong on Saturday, scoring three times in the first off of LMU starter Tylor Megill. Sam Brown got the game going with a single before a one-out walk and a single loaded the bases. Justin Jacobs followed with an infield single to plate the first run before Taylor Jones shot a single into centerfield to make it 2-0. The Bulldogs capped the scoring run one play later when Tyler Frost notched a sacrifice fly.

The lead stretched to 7-0 headed to the bottom of the fifth as Gonzaga scored four times on five hits and two errors in the top of the frame. Jacobs and Jones once again contributed run-scoring hits, with Jacobs notching a double to help himself to a 3-for-4 day. Jones finished 2-for-4 with three RBI.

Megill, who allowed seven runs on nine hits and two walks over 4.2 innings, was charged with the loss and fell to 4-3. Andrew Sopko got the start for Gonzaga, going five scoreless innings and allowing four hits and four walks while striking out six and working out of a few jams. With the victory, Sopko improved to 3-3 on the season. Calvin LeBrun earned his first save of the year by pitching the final 3.2 innings of relief, allowing just an unearned run over the span.

The Lions had early chances, but were unable to do anything with them, stranding the bases loaded in both the first and fifth innings. The fifth inning nearly saw LMU score four times on one swing of the bat as Jimmy Jack pulled a pitch with the bases loaded just inches wide of the foul pole before striking out two pitches later to end the frame.

Cassidy Brown put the Lions on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning with an RBI-single back up the middle to bring home Ryan Erickson, but Gonzaga got the run right back in the seventh after an error was charged to shortstop David Fletcher that ultimately came around to score.

Brown finished the game 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI after reaching in the bottom of the ninth on a throwing error charged to catcher Joey Harris and coming in to score on an RBI-groundout from Fletcher. Unfortunately that would be all the run production LMU could muster, as it eventually fell 8-2.

The Lion bullpen looked good in the loss, as Trevor Megill threw 3.1 innings of relief, allowing just one unearned run on one hit while striking out three. Senior Sean Buckle, making his first appearance since February 17, threw a perfect top of the ninth, including striking out one, to finish the game on the hill for LMU.

The Lions and Bulldogs will play the rubber game of the three-game series tomorrow at 1 p.m.